Daragaon, perched at an altitude of about 3,000 ft. above the sea level, is a peaceful and quaint hamlet near Kalimpong in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Locally, the place is referred to as “Upper Ichhey” or the “Balcony of Kanchenjunga”. Read this blog by mapunseen to know more about the place.
- One of the main attractions of this place is Jalsa Bungalow. This colonial-style bungalow was built in the British era in the 1930s. It is nestled amid the orange orchards on the top of the hill overlooking the Teesta Valley.
- Another Heritage of this place is a 300-year-old Lepcha Cave with a Buddha shrine and ancient Tibetan clay.
- The dense forests offer tourists the opportunity to explore the rare bird species and vibrant butterflies.
- Some other activities, like hiking or trekking, are also popular here. A short trek to Dalimkot, along with an ancient fort that allows enjoying the mesmerising views of the surrounding hills or valleys.
- The village is covered with Cinchona Plantations, an offbeat destination, where you can explore the local culture of the village. The village is full of diverse communities like Chhetri, Gurung, Rai, Lepcha and Limbu tribes, blending Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity in daily life.
- The closest airport, Bagdogra, is 82 km away, and the closest railway station New Mal Junction, is 90 km away.
- Throughout the year, the winter season and October to May are the ideal times to visit here.
Local villagers offer homestays and treat the visitors with warm hospitality (Gorkha community).
Daragaon and 49 Other Offbeat Destinations of North Bengal
| PLACE NAME | KNOWN FOR | BEST TIME TO VISIT | NEAREST TOWN/CITY | DISTANCE |
| Mirik | · Rameetay Dara Viewpoint · Bokar Monastery | During the spring and summer (March to June). | Darjeeling | 49 km |
| Kurseong | · Eagle’s Crag Viewpoint · Lush green tea estates like Ambootia and Castleton | Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). | Darjeeling | 30 km |
| Ghoom | · Oldest Tibetan Buddhist Monastery · DHR Museum, consisting Baby Siok steam engine. | March to May and also during autumn, i.e. between October – December. | Darjeeling | 6 km |
| Lepcha Jagat | · Hawaghar Viewpoint · Ghoom Rock viewpoint | October to May for clear views and skies. | Darjeeling | 19 km |
| Lamahatta | · 3 km hike to Gari Danda · Lamahatta Eco Park | During Spring, i.e. between March to May and during Autumn, between October to December | Tinchuley | 6 km |
| Tinchuley | · Grumph Dara Viewpoint · Tinchuley monastery | Between September/October – February/ March | Darjeeling | 32 km |
| Takdah | · Dechhen Pema Tshoiling Monastery · Famous tea gardens here are Teesta Valley Tea Estate, Gielle Tea Estate | Peak blooming season is between February and April. | Darjeeling | 28 km |
| Mungpoo | · Rabindranath Tagore Memorial Museum · Dinchhen Sherap Chhoeling Gompa Monastery | The best time to visit is between March to June and October to December. | Darjeeling | 33 km |
| Latpanchar | · Sarsari Dara Viewpoint · This place lies within the Buxa Tiger Reserve, a dense forest | The spring season and between October to May are the best times to visit here. | Siliguri | 41 km |
| Bijanbari | · Rammam Hydel Power Plant · Rangeet River bank | The best time to visit here is between Spring – Summer (March – June) and during Autumn (September –November) | Darjeeling | 32 km |
| Phalut | · Phalut offers the best view of the iconic “Sleeping Buddha” · The trails of nature through rhododendrons and a magnolia forest | During the autumn months (October-November) and spring (March-April) | Sandakphu | 21 km |
| Manebhanjan | · A peaceful Buddhist monastery · Nearby tea garden-Sukhiapokhri | The best time to visit is from October to December (Autumn) and March to May (Spring) | Darjeeling | 25 – 28 km |
| Sittong | · Namthing Lake · Ahal Dara Viewpoint | The best time to visit here is between October to January and from March to May | Kurseong | 24 km |
| Chatakpur | · Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary · A well-maintained watchtower that provides 360° panoramic views of Kanchenjunga and other views of the Eastern Himalayas | October to May is the best time to visit | Sonada | 7 km |
| Dawaipani | · Places like Glenburn and Lamahatta are great for strolling through tea estates and tea tasting. | The Best time to visit here is Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November) | Darjeeling | 16 – 20 km |
| Ahaldara | · The Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary · Namthing Pokhari | The ideal season to visit here is from October to February | Latpanchar | 5 km |
| Tabakoshi | · Gopaldhara Tea Garden · Tabakoshi waterfalls | The Best time to visit here is between October to March for ideal sightseeing. April to June for witnessing lush greenery | Mirik | 5.5 km |
| Lebong | · Nearby tea estates like Badamtam, Ging and Phoobshering · The Gorkha Stadium | The best time to visit here is between March to June (Summer), October to November (Autumn) and December to February (Winter) | Darjeeling | 8 km |
| Dhotrey | · The 7-8 km trek to Tonglu · Ramiteydunga Viewpoint | The Best time to visit here for trekking is between March to May and October to December. | Manebhanjan | 11 km |
| Bara Mangwa | · Teesta-Rangeet confluence · the tea gardens like Poomong, Rungli, Namring, etc. | The ideal season to visit here is from October to February | Kalimpong | 22 km |
| Peshok | · The Lover’s Meet Viewpoint or Triveni Sangam · Gumbadara Viewpoint | The ideal season to enjoy this place is October to December and March to June | Siliguri and Bagdogra | 65 km (approx.) |
| Srikhola | · A hanging wooden bridge over the swift Srikhola River | The best time to visit here is between October to May and between November to February | Rimbik | 4 km |
| Paren | · Jungle trails connect to nearby spots like Gairibas, Dalgaon and Rongo · Stroll along the Jaldhaka river banks | People can visit here only during the harvesting season between October and February. | Jhalong | 10 km |
| Rangaroon | · Rangaroon Tea Estate · Mata Singha Temple | The Spring and Autumn are ideal seasons. | Darjeeling | 12 km |
| Chhota Mangwa | · Century-old Phunchok Choeling Monastery (100 years old) of Takling Village · Lopchu is a tourist attraction famous for a small orange-juice factory | The Ideal season to visit here is between October to February | Darjeeling | 35 km |
| Sandakphu | · Trekking route is from Manebhanjan to Tumling to Kalipokhri to Sandakphu · The view of the ‘Sleeping Buddha’ is a major attraction for tourists | The best time to visit here is during springtime (April-May) and also during autumn (October-November) | Manebhanjan | 27 km |
| Lava | · Lava Monastery · Tiffin Dara Viewpoint | The ideal season to visit is between October to March | Kalimpong | 30 km |
| Kolakham | · Changey Falls · Kolakham Waterfalls | October to April is the best time to visit here | Lava | 10 km |
| Lolegaon | · Kafer Village and Charkhol | The perfect time to visit here is between October to December and February to May | Lava | 24 km |
| Rishikhola | · The Reshi River here is the main attraction · East Silk Route for extended trips like Lampokhari Lake, Aritar, Zuluk roads, Nathang Valley, Kupup Lake and Jelep La Pass | Spring to Summer (March to June) and post-monsoon to early winter (September to December) | Kalimpong | 36 km |
| Rishop | · Lava Jamgyong Kongtrul Monastery · Shiva Buddha Temple | The best time to visit here is during Spring (March-May) and Autumn (October-November) | Lava | 11 km |
| Yelbong | · Discover Rainbow waterfall and the three-step waterfall · Experience the flow of the Canyon River along with the Rumti River | The ideal season to visit is between October to March | Bagrakote | 7 km |
| Ramdhura | · Damsang Fort · An ideal spot for stargazing | The ideal time to visit here is between March-June, October-December, December-February | Kalimpong | 15 km |
| Jhandi | · Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary · Nearby attractions include Sambaing Organic Tea Gardens | The ideal season to visit here is between March to May and October to November | Lava | 12 km |
| Jogighat | · A hidden waterfall known as Lepcha Falls · Long steel bridge in Jogighat over the Riyang river, replacing an old wooden hanging bridge | October to April is the ideal time to enjoy the clear skies, pleasant weather, and winter bathing by the river | Sittong | 25.5 km |
| Rongo | · Rongo Monastery · Cinchona Plantations | The ideal time to enjoy the tourism here is between October to March, including April and November to January | Todey | 28 km |
| Munsong | · Burmaik Mahadev Dham · The main attraction of this place is panoramic vistas of the snow-covered Kanchenjunga | Can only be visited during winter (November – February) | Kalimpong | 20 km |
| Kaffergaon | · Witness unique views of remote villages and the Eastern Bhutan Hills glowing during sunset. The colour of the sky turns pink and gold in the afternoon | October to April is the peak season for clear skies | Lava | 20 km |
| Daragaon | · Heritage of this place is a 300-year-old Lepcha Cave with a Buddha shrine and ancient Tibetan clay · The main attraction of this place is Jalsa Bungalow | Throughout the year, the winter season and October to May are the ideal times to visit here | Lava | 22 km |
| Jhalong | · Jaldhaka Hydel Project · Famous for cardamom plantations | The best time to visit is here is between October to May | Bindu | 10 km |
| Pabong | · Nearby tea gardens are Fagu, Syle, Chel and Kumai · Renowned for Vibrant Himalayan bird species in forests and orange orchards | The ideal season to come here is from October to April, and December to February | Kalimpong | 35 km |
| Suntalekhola | · Mouchiki is a popular picnic · Suntalekhola is the entry point of Neora Valley National Park | Best time to visit here – October to April | Samsing | 3-4 km |
| Bindu | · Bindu Dam serves as a bridge into Bhutan · The environment is covered with terraced orange and cardamom orchards, along with shimmering rivers | The best time to visit here is between October to March, and the Winter season | Jhalong | 16 km |
| Ichhe Gaon | · Silent Valley offers a peaceful retreat · Short treks lead to nearby villages like Ramdhura and Sillery Gaon | The best time to visit here is during Summer (March to May) and Winter (October to December) | Kalimpong | 15 km |
| Samthar | · Samthar Plateau Viewpoint · Witness Nathula Pass and Jelepa Pass | The best season to visit here is between October to May | Kalimpong | 42 km |
| Lungchu | . Nearby attractions include Mulkhara Lake, especially famous for its wish-fulfilment beliefs . Aritar Lake, known as Ghati-Tso, beautiful place surrounded by a river and mountains | The ideal time to visit here is during autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May) | Lava | 17 km |
| Rocky Island | . Clean riverside location for campfires, outdoor games and stargazing . Trekking routes like Mo or Mouchuki, Suntalekhola, Tree Fern Point or Neora Valley forest base | The perfect time to visit this place is between October to April | Samsing | 3 km |
| Samsing | . Cardamom plantations and orange orchards make it a perfect place for a weekend getaway. . Famous for the lush green tea garden estates like Fagu and Chalsa. | The ideal time to visit here is between October to March | Matiali | 7.7 km |
| Chilapata | . The forest consists of the ruins of the Nalraja Garh, an ancient fort which is believed to date back to the Gupta period. . Tourists can go for a forest safari through the dense forest trails. | The best time to visit here is between October and March | Hasimara | 15 km |
| Lepchakha | . Former British detention centre, the Buxa Fort. . Nearby attractions are Mahakal Cave, Buxa forest area and Jayanti Riverbed – 14 km distance. | During mid-October to December (winter months), and April are the best times to visit Lepchakha | Alipurduar | 20 km |
Conclusion on Daragaon
Daragaon is a small village in the Kalimpong region of West Bengal, away from the bustling crowd of the urban area. The place offers dense woods, clear skies and a calm setting for solo travellers. The day here passes slowly in simple moments. The place gently invites tourists by its simplicity and true offbeat spirit.
FAQs
1. Is Daragaon safe for a quiet holiday?
Yes, Daragaon is ideal for travellers seeking silence, nature, and a slow-paced getaway that is also safe.
2. What type of stays are available in Daragaon?
Daragaon mainly offer homestays with simple comfort and local hospitality.
3. How many days are enough for Daragaon?
Two to three days are enough to relax and explore the village and the nearby areas.
